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The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking and exciting afterschool program that transforms local middle and high school students into real, con�dent entrepreneurs. Through the year-long program, students in grades 6-12 generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their very own real companies. The Academy also provides local community members with a variety of opportunities to volunteer and get involved. From exciting business guest lecturers and dynamic �eld trips to innovative companies, to passionate business mentors and investor panelists, there are countless ways to help these local students launch their own enterprises and become impassioned local leaders. YEA! was developed in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support form the Kau�man Foundation. Today, the Academy is a proud national partner of the United States Chamber of Commerce and can be found in communities nationwide.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO MEAN BUSINESS

Art of the Start ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES !

The Art of the Start ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES INVESTOR PANELISTS A prestigious seat to hold, local Investor Panelists evaluate, judge, and provide start-up capital to the real student businesses at the Investor Panel Event! The panel will allocate funding to various business concepts based on the quality of their pitch and presentation.

BUSINESS MENTORS Mentors work one-on-one with student businesses to assist in the creation of their business plans. In a 90-minute session for six weeks, mentors provide guidance and feedback as students think through all aspects of their business creation, write their business plans, and prepare for their Investor Panel Presentations.

THE CEO ROUNDTABLE The CEO Roundtable is an exciting event that features 3-5 local CEOs discussing their roles, companies, backgrounds, and o er helpful business and networking advice to the students.

ELEVATOR PITCHES Acting as a local Pitch Expert, this community member rides in an elevator with students, providing them an

opportunity to practice and perfect their all-important Elevator Pitches before their Trade Show and Investor Panel events.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Graphic Designers work one-on-one with individual student businesses to produce logos and print materials for the new enterprises, including business cards, brochures, letterheads, and more. Working remotely, Graphic Designers invest approximately 5-10 hours in helping a new student business secure a professional and winning look and feel.

WEB DEVELOPERS Web Developers have the opportunity to create a new, exciting online presence for a student business start-up that promotes the company well. Each developer invests about 10-20 hours including an in-class visit with the student business.

THE MEDIA MEET & GREET This exciting event includes local reporters, anchors, producers, editors, and communications professionals who come in and speak with students about the power of the press, how to get stories covered, interviewing tips, and so much more!

Guest Speaker ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES !

Guest Speaker ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES !

Guest Speaker ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Guest speaking opportunities provide a great way for local, passionate professionals to share their specialized knowledge with middle and high school students participating the YEA! Class. A one-time 60 to 90-minute commitment, donating your time to help aspiring entrepreneurs launch their dreams will have a lasting impact on your community. ACCOUNTANT SPEAKER Accountant guest speakers come to the class to speak with students about budgeting,

nancing, and taxes while also touching on the role of an accountant and what small business owners should know about accounting services.

ATTORNEY SPEAKER Attorney guess speakers introduce students to legal business structures, intellectual property, patent and trademarks, and how the law and court systems interact with small businesses.

E-COMMERCE SPEAKER E-commerce guest speakers teach students about the great opportunities of conducting online business and explain the pros and cons of e-commerce and why it is so

important to small businesses in today’s economy.

INSURANCE SPEAKER Insurance guest speakers speak with students in the class about speci c business insurance needs of the various student enterprises and discuss the risks di erent businesses face, how insurance works, and how small businesses bene t from the insurance industry.

NICHE MARKETING SPEAKER Marking guest speakers help students to understand what a niche market is and explain the pros and cons of operating within a niche market through their own personal experiences and work.

Guest Speaker ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES !

DESIGNATION & AWARDS SPEAKER Awards guest speakers tell students how applying for, being nominated for, and receiving special awards can have a positive impact on a company’s culture, customer base, and marketing campaigns.

TAXES & BUSINESS SPEAKER Tax guest speakers use their expertise and personal experiences to tell students what small businesses need to know about taxes, sales taxes, �ling options, and the role of state and federal taxes on local enterprises.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR SPEAKER Social Entrepreneurship guest speakers tell students about the importance of social entrepreneurship, the business behind non-pro�ts, and the vital role that non-pro�t organizations play in a local community.

BANKING & PARTNER SPEAKER The Academy’s local banking partner gets involved directly with new student enterprises, provides free checking accounts to each business, and comes into the class to speak about the role of banking and business loans in a small business.

GOVERNMENT RESOURCE SPEAKER Government Resource guest speakers typically include a Mayor, County Executive, or Economic Development leader to speak with students about the role that local municipalities can play in creating a friendly business environment and incentives for local companies.

SALES SPEAKER Sales guest speakers speak to students about how to e�ectively sell their products or services to customers and draw on their own experiences to explain the basics of successful sales pitches, how to interact best with customers, and what students should prepare for their Trade Show event.

Business Field Trip ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES !

Business Field Trip ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

COOL BUSINESS FIELD TRIP The “Cool” Business Field Trip is designed to get students excited about the promise of enterprise and features a hip and fun local company that is visually appealing with a dynamic speaker. If your company is all about fun, this is a wonderful community engagement opportunity for you.

PROFESSIONAL STYLE FIELD TRIP An exciting and fun trip leading up to the Investor Panel Event where students will pitch their plans for funding, this Extreme Makeover trip exposes students to the business aspect of a salon, as well as the importance of dressing for success and presenting oneself in a professional manner.

ADVERTISING/MARKETING FIELD TRIP An important part of any enterprise, this visit teaches students about various advertising, marketing, and public relations strategies that are vital to small business success. The students will learn how to enhance their company’s brand while attracting more customers and generating more sales.

FRANCHISING FIELD TRIP The Franchising Field Trip helps students understand the real possibility of creating a quality branded enterprise that is replicable to serve more customers in more locations across the country and/or world. This is a great opportunity for students to learn the importance of this unique type of business operations and structure.

BUSINESS OF SPORTS FIELD TRIP A eld trip to a dynamic local sports stadium or place of recreation provides a fun way for students to learn the business and operations behind these popular local companies. Through the trip, students will discover the behind-the-scenes approach to fun and games!

COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE FIELD TRIP A momentous day when the students le their businesses legally as local DBAs, the County Clerk Field Trip helps students understand how government and legal structures impact local commerce.

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Thank you for taking the time to learn about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy and how local community members like you are making a life changing impact on the lives of local students while developing the local economy! We would love to speak to you further about current opportunities for you to get involved. For additional information, please contact our Minneapolis o�ce:

612.370.9134 yea@mplschamber.com

www.mplschamber.com/yea

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO MEAN BUSINESS